What are fontanels?

Fontanels are the soft, flexible spaces between the bones of an infant's skull, commonly known as "soft spots." They allow for the growth of the skull as the baby's brain develops and help facilitate the passage of the head through the birth canal during delivery. Over time, these fontanels gradually close as the skull bones fuse, typically by the age of 18 months. The most well-known fontanel is the anterior fontanel, located at the top of the head.